Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 510/14

CM LAUNCHES WEDDING ASSISTANCE SCHEME FOR ORPHAN GIRLS

Shillong, December 10, 2014: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma today launched the Chief Minister’s Wedding Assistance Scheme for Orphan Girls and also distributed cheques to the beneficiaries of Chief Minister’s Social AssistanceScheme at an impressive function organized by the Social Welfare department, here at the Chandmari Playground. The Wedding Assistance Scheme for poor orphan girls above 18 years is being implemented by the department in all district offices in the State and forms will be available for the deserving beneficiaries in all district offices as well as Child Development Project offices in all the blocks.

The Chief Minister also simultaneously inaugurated the Children’s Home for Girls located in Tetengkol and laid the foundation stones for construction of Tribal Girls’ Hostel under Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Hajong Boys’ Hostel and Koch Boys’ Hostel here at Tura. The Children’s Home will be run by Women’s Economic Development Society (WEDS) the Church-based NGO in partnership with the Government.

Parliamentary Secretary for C and RD,etc. Noverfield R. Marak, GHADC Chairman, P. K. Sangma and other MDCs, former Minister, M.D. Shira, Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi, Director of Social Welfare, H.M. Shangpliang also attended the function, amongst others and distributed the assistance to the beneficiaries along with the Chief Minister.

In his address, Dr. Mukul Sangma expressed his happiness to be able to personally give the benefit of the Scheme to the poor, orphan girls so that they can get married and start decent families. Regarding Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme for the Infirm, Single Mothers and Persons with Disabilities, he said although the Scheme was launched way back in 2012, it was found that many deserving persons had not availed the benefit, so enrollment drives were carried out extensively throughout the State, after which there has been a huge increase in the number of applicants, he said, adding that this scheme is a testimony that the Government is with them.

The Chief Minister said that most rural areas do not have institutions for higher studies, so the parents send their children to district capitals for their higher education, but when they don’t have hostels to stay it becomes a problem for them. In this regard the Government has decided to have hostels in every district capital and partner with interested NGOs to manage these hostels. “When the government runs the hostels only the educational/administrative aspect is taken care of, other aspects of nurturing the young students – moral and spiritual – are then neglected. That is why the Government is looking to partner with the church and social organizations,” he said.

Expressing dismay over the poor service delivery by government run institutions and hospitals, the Chief Minister said that the government is re-strategizing its approach to development and delivery system and informed that the government has decided to pass new laws in the coming Assembly, namely, Service Delivery Act and Social Policy Act. Under this, concurrent assessment of every developmental programme will be done, he said. Calling upon the social organizations to come forward and partner with the Government in the management of hostels, schools and hospitals, the Chief Minister added said that social sector will never thrive unless all the people of the society come and work together.

Earlier, a pair of pigeons and balloons were released by the Chief Minister along with other dignitaries to mark the occasion. Others who also spoke on the occasion were the Parliamentary Secretary, N. R. Marak, former Minister, Mrs. M.D. Shira, Director of WEDS, Rev. F.D. Sangma, Adviser of Meghalaya Hajong Association, P. K. Hajong and Assistant Director, Social Welfare, L. M. Momin, who gave the introductory address.